Danaher Corporation Stock Price Targets
Comprehensive analysis of short, mid, and long-term price targets for Danaher Corporation (DHR).
Give me a comprehensive price target analysis for Danaher Corporation (DHR).
Execution note: I’ve drawn horizontal trendlines for the three price targets you provided. The lines are on:
- Low Target: 205 (blue)
- Median Target: 237.50 (orange)
- High Target: 310 (green)
Lines extend 30 days into the future from today (2025-10-02) to 2025-11-01.
Now, the comprehensive analysis.
Executive Summary
- Danaher (DHR) is a diversified life sciences and industrials group with durable margins and strong cash flow. The stock trades with a premium multiple, reflecting its quality franchise, disciplined growth, and strong balance sheet.
- Current price: 212.88
- Analysts’ targets imply meaningful upside from current levels, with a mean target of 243.55 and a median target of 237.50, and a high target of 310. The three indicated levels (205 low, 237.5 median, 310 high) have been plotted as long-run horizontal reference lines.
- Near-term catalysts include continued demand in life sciences, ongoing operational efficiency, and potential incremental share repurchases. Risks include earnings revisions pressure (net downward revisions in recent periods) and macro/healthcare demand sensitivity.
Key numerical snapshot (selected metrics are summarized in tables below).
- Valuation: trailing P/E ~39.20; forward P/E ~25.40; P/B ~2.91
- Profitability: gross margin ~59.7%; operating margin ~20.1%; net margin around mid-teens
- Balance sheet: total cash ~$2.96B; total debt ~$18.56B; debt/equity ~35.5%; dividend yield ~0.69%
- Momentum: 50-day MA
$199.3, price ($212.9) sits above the MA; RSI ~65.3; MACD recently negative, suggesting modest near-term headwinds in momentum - EPS trend and revisions show a strong near-term EPS signal but mixed revisions in the more recent period
Fundamental Analysis
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current price | 212.88 |
| Market cap | 152.43B |
| Enterprise value | 168.04B |
| Trailing P/E | 39.20 |
| Forward P/E | 25.40 |
| PEG ratio | n/a |
| Price-to-book | 2.912 |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 6.68% |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | 4.01% |
| Profit margin | 14.21% |
| Gross margin | 59.72% |
| Operating margin | 20.12% |
| Debt to equity | 35.45% |
| Total cash | ~$2.96B |
| Total debt | ~$18.56B |
| Dividend yield | 0.69% |
| Five-year avg dividend yield | 0.39% |
| Beta | 0.78 |
Notes:
- The balance sheet shows a leverage footprint that is typical for a cash-generative healthcare/industrial company with manufacturing investments. Cash generation supports modest dividend yield and potential buybacks.
- The forward P/E of ~25.4 suggests investors are pricing in solid earnings growth relative to today’s level alongside mid-to-high-single-digit earnings growth, supported by the company’s diversified portfolio and margin discipline.
Earnings Analysis
Recent earnings snapshot (selected metrics, periods shown)
| Metric (5-Quarter view) | 2025-06-30 | 2025-03-31 | 2024-12-31 | 2024-09-30 | 2024-06-30 | 2024-03-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income (continuing ops) | 555M | 954M | 1,086M | 818M | 907M | — |
| Diluted EPS | 0.77 | 1.32 | 1.49 | 1.12 | 1.22 | — |
| Basic EPS | 0.77 | 1.33 | 1.50 | 1.13 | 1.23 | — |
| Normalized income | 592.3M | 1,022.4M | 1,138.9M | 731.8M | 956.4M | — |
| EBITDA | 1,337M | 1,792M | 1,971M | 1,655M | 1,728M | — |
| Operating income | 760M | 1,274M | 1,425M | 958M | 1,168M | — |
| Total revenue | 5,936M | 5,741M | 6,538M | 5,798M | 5,743M | — |
EPS trend and revisions (selected)
-
EPS Trend (latest quarters, derived from provided data):
- 0q (current quarter): 1.725
- +1q: 2.379
- 0y (last year-to-date): 7.773
- +1y: 8.588
-
EPS Revisions (periods and counts, 0q and others):
- 0q: Up last 7 days = 1; Up last 30 days = 1; Down last 30 days = 16; Down last 7 days = 15
- +1q: Up last 7 days = 0; Up last 30 days = 0; Down last 30 days = 1; Down last 7 days = 1
- 0y: Up last 7 days = 0; Up last 30 days = 0; Down last 30 days = 1; Down last 7 days = 1
- +1y: Up last 7 days = 0; Up last 30 days = 1; Down last 30 days = 2; Down last 7 days = 2
Interpretation:
- The latest period shows solid earnings on an absolute basis (Net Income and EBITDA elevated vs. prior periods), consistent with a durable margin profile. However, the EPS revisions in the most recent window are predominantly downward (net negative revisions), which can temper upside expectations in the near term despite robust reported results.
Technical Analysis
- Price action: The stock trades around 212.88, above the 50-day moving average, which sits near 199.3 as of 2025-10-01. This position above the MA points to a mildly bullish intermediate trend.
- 50-day MA: ~199.3 (last observed 2025-10-01)
- RSI (14): ~65.3 (as of 2025-10-01), indicating modest near-term overbought conditions but not extreme.
- MACD (12,26,9): Recently negative (latest MACD around -1.2 vs. Signal around -3.0 on 2025-10-01), suggesting some cooling of momentum despite decent price level.
- Key short-term support near the 50-day MA (~199) and intermediate resistance around the $237–$238 area (coinciding roughly with the Median target and the 12-month target vicinity).
Technical takeaway:
- The stock is in a constructive zone relative to its 50-day MA, but momentum indicators (MACD) and a mid-60s RSI imply monitoring for a potential near-term pullback if macro or company-specific headlines weigh on sentiment.
RSI and MACD context (last 60 days):
- RSI has oscillated in the mid-30s to mid-60s band over the period, currently ~65.3.
- MACD has moved from positive territory into a negative reading across recent observations, suggesting a pause or dip in near-term upside momentum.
Analyst Consensus & Price Targets
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Current price | 212.88 |
| Target low | 205.00 |
| Target mean | 243.55 |
| Target median | 237.50 |
| Target high | 310.00 |
| Analyst coverage (count) | 20 |
| Price target distribution (range) | 205 – 310 |
Notes:
- The mean target of 243.55 implies about 14% upside over the next 3–4 months from current levels, while the median of 237.50 implies roughly 11% upside. The high of 310 signals potential ~46% upside in a more optimistic scenario.
- The spread and number of opinions indicate a broadly constructive stance but with a wide dispersion of views, underscoring some asymmetry in the risk/reward.
Analyst targets are consistent with a quality, defensible franchise and a balance between near-term EPS revisions risk and longer-term growth leverage.
Catalysts to watch:
- Ongoing demand in life sciences instrumentation and diagnostics.
- Margin discipline and potential incremental efficiency gains.
- Share repurchases or capital allocation enhancements.
- New product cycles or expansion into adjacent healthcare segments.
Price Target Analysis (Short, Mid, Long-Term)
Summary of target horizons and drivers (base case anchored to provided targets)
-
Short-Term (3 months)
- Target: 243.55 (mean)
- Justification: Proximity to the 50-day MA support, continued demand tailwinds in life sciences, and resilient profitability in recent quarters. Analysts look for continued EPS strength in the near term, with upside potential from cost controls and product mix.
- Key drivers: Revenue growth in core segments, favorable mix, and continued cash generation enabling modest buybacks or dividend optimization.
-
Mid-Term (12 months)
- Target: 237.50 (median)
- Justification: Valuation multiple compression/expansion dynamics and a more balanced earnings trajectory; execution in cost management and strong cash generation remain key.
- Key drivers: Sustained growth in the scientific instruments and healthcare segments, ongoing margin improvements, and capital allocation efficiency.
-
Long-Term (3+ years)
- Target: 310.00 (high)
- Justification: The outsized upside would reflect durable top-line growth in health-related instruments, ongoing margin expansion, favorable lifecycle management of major franchises, and potential new product cycles or acquisitions that expand addressable markets.
- Key drivers: Structural demand in life sciences, productivity gains across the portfolio, and potential new market penetrations or product platforms.
Upside potential (current vs targets):
- Current price: 212.88
- 3-month target (mean): 243.55 → +14.4% potential
- 12-month target (median): 237.50 → +11.6% potential
- 12-month high (310): +45.7% potential
Table: Price targets and upside (illustrative)
| Horizon | Target | Implied Upside vs Current |
|---|---|---|
| Short-Term (3m) | 243.55 | ~14.4% |
| Mid-Term (12m) | 237.50 | ~11.6% |
| Long-Term (3+ yrs) | 310.00 | ~45.7% |
Important considerations:
- The 205 line represents a conservative support reference (Low Target). The 237.5 line constitutes a core resistance/target zone (Median). The 310 line represents an optimistic upper-bound scenario (High Target). The actual path will depend on earnings execution, macro risk, and market pricing for healthcare/life sciences equities.
Key Risks & Opportunities
-
Key Risks
- EPS revisions are skewed toward downgrades in the recent window, which could tempers near-term upside if not offset by stronger earnings execution.
- Macro and healthcare policy/regulatory dynamics can impact capital spending and demand for instrumentation.
- Valuation is premium vs. broad market; multiple compression is possible if growth expectations modestly slow.
-
Key Opportunities
- Long-run demand tailwinds in life sciences and diagnostics can sustain growth.
- Attractive free cash flow generation supports share repurchases and dividends.
- Operational efficiency and margin expansion could lift profitability beyond current estimates.
Investment Recommendation
- Recommendation: Buy (HOLD with upside potential)
- Time horizon: 12–24 months
- Expected return potential: Approximately 11–15% on base-case upside (to around 237.5–243.6), with potential upside into the high-20s to low-40s percent range if the high target (310) is achieved via sustained margin gains and strong top-line growth.
- Rationale: The stock sits above its 50-day moving average with a solid profitability profile and robust cash flow. The target dispersion implies meaningful upside exists, particularly if near-term earnings revisions stabilize and growth catalysts materialize. The near-term risk is primarily linked to revisions dynamics, but the long-run fundamentals remain supportive of a constructive stance.
Appendix: Key Data Sources Referenced
- Price levels and targets (Low/Median/High): Low 205.00, Median 237.50, High 310.00
- Analyst price targets: targetLow 205.0, targetMean 243.55, targetMedian 237.5, targetHigh 310.0, currentPrice 212.88, numberOfAnalystOpinions 20
- Fundamental metrics: provided JSON (currentPrice, marketCap, enterpriseValue, trailingPE, forwardPE, priceToBook, ROE, ROA, margins, debt/equity, cash/debt, dividend yield, beta)
- Earnings Summary (periods): Net Income; Diluted EPS; Basic EPS; Normalized Income; EBITDA; Operating Income; Total Revenue (periods 2025-06-30 to 2024-03-31)
- EPS Trend (periods): 0q, +1q, 0y, +1y with current/previous values
- EPS Revisions (0q, +1q, 0y, +1y with upLast7days/upLast30days and downLast30days/downLast7Days)
- Technical indicators (Last 60 Days): 50-day MA (latest ~199.3), RSI (latest ~65.3), MACD values (latest negative)
If you’d like, I can refine the analysis with sensitivity scenarios (e.g., bull/bear case) or add a discounted cash flow (DCF) framework to tie the price targets to intrinsic valuation.